J. E. B. Seely, the Secretary of State for War had invited General Foch, a Russian delegation under Grand Duke Nicholas, and the Ministers for Defence of Canada (Sam Hughes) and South Africa (Jan Smuts).
[2] According to his diary, Grierson "stayed in camp all day receiving reports and very soon locating all the lines of march and halting places of the Red forces".
In the ensuing 'battle', Blue forces won a clear victory, bringing the manoeuvres to a close a day early.
At the final conference in Trinity Hall, the King presiding, the opponents were asked to explain their tactics and moves.
According to John Charteris, he did not read out his written statement, which gave a "clear and convincing account of his views, he did not even refer to it when he spoke but to the dismay of his staff attempted to extemporise.
The university dignitaries soon fell asleep, Haig's friends became more and more uncomfortable, only he seemed totally unconscious of his failure."
Warner suggests that the notes Haig made in advance might have been prepared on the assumption that the battle was evenly balanced and would have sounded absurd if used after the result was declared.
[3] "Haig was completely out-generalled by Grierson, in spite of the efforts of the umpires and judges to make the contest appear more even.".
In his speech at Trinity Hall, Grierson recounted "I told them to look as like toadstools as they could and to make noises like oysters.